The China Urban Labor Employment and Labor Flow research
team have conducted a survey, which reveals that 50 percent of the
floating rural population want to stay in cities, while less than
10 percent would prefer to return home.
As far as urban dwellers are concerned, migrant workers do not
belong in the cities even if they are prosperous. Li Cheng is still
hurt by the derogatory remarks made by city dwellers about his
background. "We can never enjoy the same rights as urban citizens.
The word 'farmer' is used to mean a poorly-educated person with
outdated concepts and little awareness of hygiene," says Li.
Migrant workers take on the heavy, dirty work disdained by their
urban counterparts, and even when there are rural and urban workers
on the same job, they do not reap the same benefits. Rural workers
get no insurance, subsidies or social security, and have to pay a
high entrance fee when sending their children to school. The worst
aspect of their situation is the unfair treatment they are
subjected to, like working overtime with no pay, and being chosen
to do dangerous work with no protective clothing or equipment. If
they fall ill, or get injured to the extent of disablement, they
are simply fired.
Legal experts say that the present system makes it difficult for
migrant workers to enjoy their civil rights in cities, as urban
social organizational systems are not open to them and they are
constrained by discriminatory local laws and regulations.
"I like the skyscrapers, shopping malls, the hustle and bustle
of city life," says 26-year-old Yan'er from Guangxi Zhuang
Autonomous Region. Having worked in Shenzhen for eight years, she
is reluctant to leave. But Yan'er does find city life hard because
of the fierce competition which dictates that 18-25 is the most
desirable age group for employment, outside of which there are few
opportunities. A considerable number of migrant workers are
reluctant to return to their home provinces, but few gain a
foothold in the city due to a lack of professional skills.
(Shenzhen Daily August 25, 2004)